Mohalenyane Phakela
THE Queen’s National Trust Fund board has called on Basotho to support the annual Queen’s Gala Dinner Dance whose proceeds will be used to support the education of vulnerable children.
The event will be held at AVANI Maseru on Friday.
The royal charity was formed in 1985 by the late Queen ‘Mamohato Bereng Seeiso with the aim of effectively responding to poverty by assisting vulnerable children to access education. Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso took over the mantle in 2001 when Queen ‘Mamohato Bereng Seeiso passed away.
The charity currently supports 238 students in secondary and high schools across the country.
The trust’s chairperson ‘Malerotholi Mathealira Seeiso this past week said they were still a long way from reaching their goal.
“There are so many children across Lesotho that need to be taken to school so they can be able to feed themselves as well as their families in future while also contributing to the development of this country,” she said.
“Our goal is to impact on every child and even fund their tertiary education but we are still very far from achieving that as we are currently sponsoring 238 children in secondary and high schools.
“At first we covered school fees only but then we realized that some go to school on empty stomachs or without uniform so the amount of help we offer depends on each child’s needs. We accept applications countrywide which are accompanied by the chiefs’ and school principals’ references. It is through unity as Basotho that we can make the initiative grow and invest in the future of this nation by educating vulnerable children.”
The trust’s deputy chairperson, Felleng Makeka, said this year’s event would serve the dual purposes of fundraising and celebrating the Queen ‘Masenate Mohato Seeiso’s 40th birthday.
“The gala is meant to thank people who have been supporting us and we will have fun with the purpose of raising funds with the key sponsors. Other donations will also come from different well-wishers. This year’s edition will be special because we will also be celebrating the Queen’s 40th birthday,” Ms Makeka said.
The black tie event is expected to be graced by the royal family, representatives of the private sector and dignitaries among others. A seat costs M600 and M1 050 for a couple. A table for 10 has been pegged at M11 500.
Other initiatives by the trust are the Queen’s Garden Tea Party held annually in March and the two inverted roses (The Lesotho Royal and The Lesotho Prince) which have been on the market for the past five years.
The trust has also used the roses as essence for a perfume currently being tested locally ahead of release for the international market.